Watercraft propulsion device



Filed Aug. ll, 1964 I 8 VIIIIIIIIIIII '2P lllinlulll" j\ y 24 f `84 F|G8 INVENTOR Clive H Bromson United States Patent 3,236,203 WATERCRAFTPROPULSION DEVICE Clive H. Bramson, 1 Bay St., Oyster Bay, N.Y. FiledAug. 11, 1964, Ser. No. 388,828 12 Claims. (Cl. 11S- 19) This inventionrelates generally to watercraft propulsion devices and more particularlyto novel means for motivating such watercraft wherein the propulsionmechanism essentially comprises at least one cup-like member, thedensity thereof being smaller than the density of water to thus rendersaid member buoyant of character.

Briefly stated, the present invention is concerned with causing themotivation of a watercraft by means of a cuplike member preferablyformed of material which will float upon the surface of a body of water,notwithstanding the complete containment of water within thewaterreceiving opening Within the member. That is, the cuplike member isconstructed of material as aforedescribed, preferably, e.g., expandedpolystyrene although any other suitable material may be utilized.Further, said member may, although less advantageously, be formed ofdoublejacketted construction whereby an air pocket is contained betweenthe inner and outer jacket to cause said member to oat upon water. Evenfurther, the instant invention contemplates the utilization of a memberhaving a water-receiving cavity therewithin, where said member, althoughformed essentially of non-buoyant material, will oat because of thesecurement thereto of a buoyant body.

Specically, the import of the present invention resides in connectingthe cup-like member to a watercraft, the cavity or opening of the memberbeing arranged to face in the direction opposite to the direction inwhich the watercraft is to be propelled. Upon forced submergence of themember beneath the water in which the watercraft is located, the cavityor opening will ll with water. When the member, which is buoyant, floatsto the surface, the water within the cavity will be discharged as thecavity emerges above the surface of the water, whereupon said member andwatercraft will be propelled in a direction opposite to the direction ofdischarge.

Inasmuch as the member is buoyant, the application of force is necessaryto accomplish submergence thereof, said force being mechanicallyimparted or imparted directly by the user of the watercraft to which thepropulsion device is connected.

Although not preferable, the utilization of a nonbuoyant cup-like memberis also contemplated. Where so employed, the member is connected to thewatercraft with the cavity thereof facing rearwardly of the desireddirection of movement, as aforementioned, and the member allowed tosink, the cavity then being automatically lled with water. Upon beingmanually or mechanically raised above the surface of the Water, thewater within the cavity will be discharged to thus impart motion to thewatercraft during the discharge period.

Accordingly, and consonant with the foregoing, the general object of theinstant invention resides in the provision of a device capable ofdriving a Watercraft in a desired direction, the movement being derivedby reason of the discharge of water from a buoyant member during theascension of the member above the surface of the body of water.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a watercraftpropulsion device which can be movably or ixedly connected to thewatercraft and submerged either manually or by mechanical means.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of awatercraft propulsion device which can be operatively connected at thestern, bow, centrally of or beneath the hull of the watercraft.

3,236,203 Patented Feb. 22, 1966 lCC Another object of the instantinvention is to provide a device of the foregoing character which can beformed in various configurations and which can be utilized singularly ora plurality thereof can be connected to the watercraft.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of apropulsion device which can propel a watercraft surfacedly orsubsurfacedly of a body of water, the buoyant cup-like propulsion memberbeing adapted to oat to the surface notwithstanding the position of thewatercraft.

Another general object of the present invention is to provide a deviceof the described character which Will be simple in structure, economicalof manufacture and highly effective in use.

Other objects and advantages of the instant Watercraft propulsion devicewill be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obviousherefrom, or may be learned by practice of the invention, the same beingrealized and attained by means of the structures defined and pointed outin the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings referred to herein and constituting a parthereof, illustrate several embodiments of the invention, and togetherwith the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a simplified form of a watercrafthaving four buoyant cup-like members connected thereto in various ways;

FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 illustrate end views of the hull of a simplifiedwatercraft showing pairs of buoyant cuplike members connected thereto atopposite ends of a single rigid centrally pivotable arm, a pair ofindividually pivotable arms and a single arm rigidly attached to thewatercraft, respectively;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of a watercraft having mechanicalmeans provided thereon whereby the buoyant cup-like member may besubmerged by means of a lever arm which may be manually or otherwiseactuated;

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the construction according to FIGURE 5wherein the rotational attribute of the cup-like member and depressingmeans is illustrated;

FIGURE 7 illustrates elevational side and end crosssectional views,respectively, of a conventionally shaped cup having a water-receivingcavity therein and constructed of low density material, namely expandedpolystyrene; and

FIGURE 8 is a cup-like 4member having V-shaped forward and bottomexternal walls and a water-receiving cavity therewithin.

It will be understood that the foregoing accompanying illustrations aremerely exemplary and are for purposes of explanation but are notintended to encompass the myriad of cup designs and methods ofattachment thereof to a watercraft.

Referring now in detail to the preferred embodiment, FIGURE 1 shows aWatercraft designated generally by numeral 1, a pair of cup-like members2 and 4 being connected to the stern thereof and a pair of cup-likemembers 6 and 8 connected to the bfow as shown.

A's aforedescribed, the cup-like members illustrated herein are ofbuoyant character, i.e., they are capable of displacing a volume ofwater weighing more than the weight of the members themselves. Otherwisestated, the cup-like members t-o be buoyed by water are formed ofmaterial having a density smaller than the density of water.

The cup-like members herein preferably utilized are formed of expandedpolystyrene although expanded polyurethane or other like extremely lowdensity materials may be advantageously utilized.

3 With reference to FIGURE 7 of the drawings, a conventional cup orbucket member 10 is shown, said member having inside walls 12, back wall14 and opening 16,

. said opening, side and fback walls forming a cavity 18, said cavitybeing also referred to herein `as a water-receivingorWater-retaining-cavity or portion. In use or as connected to thewatercraft, the opening 16 is arranged to face in the direction oppositeto the direction of movement of the cup-like member when water isdischarging therefrom. Because of the extremely buoyant character of thecup, it will float upon the surface of a body of water with the majorvolume of the cavity above said surface or otherwise stated it willfloat with only its lower wall 20 resting on the water. Thus, when thecup is forced beneath the surface whereat water will fill the cavity 18,it will float to the surface when released, and as the cavity emergesthrough the surface, the water contained therein will begin to egresstherefrom and in so doing will act upon the body of water to propel thecup in the direction opposite to the direction of such action upon thebody of water.

FIGURE 8 illustrates a cup design which, by virtue of its V-shapedforward end 22 and V-shaped bottom wall 24, will be more readilysubmergible and will offer les reisstance when moving through the waterin the direction of arrow 26.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the cup-like members may be mounted as a pairwhereby by reason of rigid arm 28 which is pivoted to hull 30 at 32, onecup, e.g., 34 will be submerged below the surface 36 of the body ofwater 38, while cup 40 Will be raised therefrom. Cup 34, by dint of itsbuoyant property will rise to the surface and discharge the water withinits cavity 42 to thus propel the hull 30 in the direction opposite tothe direction of the discharge. Rigid arm 28 is similar to arm 44 shownpivoted to the bow in FIGURE 1 and the operation of cups 6 and 8correspond to the described action of cups 34 and 40.

FIGURE 3 is illustrative of the connecting arrangement shown withrespect to the stern of watercraft 1 in FIGURE l. Arm 46 which isindependently pivotable is shown forced downwardly in broken linedesignation, cup 48 being submerged beneath -surface 36. Upon floatingupwardly and substantially above the surface, water 50 contained withincavity 52 o-f cup 48, is discharged to thus propel the hull 30. Pivotedarm 54 is similarly operable.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 4, cups 56 and 58 and hull 30 byreason of the rigid attachment of arm 59 to said hull, will beconcurrently submersible upon application of downward force 6i). Whenpermitted to float to the surface 36, the discharge of the Water fromopenings 62 and 64 will occasion a propulsion force to the watercraft asaforedescribed.

FIGURES and 6 illustrate means whereby a manual or other suitablecup-submerging force may be indirectly applied to cup 66 by a lever 68.That is, an upward force 70 imparted to said lever which is pivoted at72 upon support upright 74, will effectuate `a downward force 76 toshaft 78, the latter being connected at its lower end 80 to cup-likemember 82. Shaft 78 is maintained vertically by sleeve 84, wherebysubsequent to submersion, cup 82 will float vertically t-o the surface36 to thereby propel hull 30 in accordance with the foregoing, i.e., inthe direction of arrow 86, the direction generally opposite to thedirection of water discharge designated by arrow 88 in FIGURE 6.

As further illustrated in FIGURE 6, vertical shaft 74 may be rotated tothus rotate the entire assembly, including lever 68, sleeve 84 andhorizontal arm 85 to which it is secured, cup-like member 66 beingsimilarly rotated thereby changing the facing direction of opening 90 ofthe cavity within said cup, the direction of discharge of water from theopening being thereby changeable to thus afford directional guidance. ofthe hull 30.

It will be appreciated that cup-like member 66 will not rotate laterallyby virtue of the rectangular cross- `section of vertical shaft 78 andthe similarly rectangular cross-section of sleeve 84.

Thus, described, it will be undestood that the buoyant cup member may bepositioned with respect to the watercraft as described or may beinterposed between the oats of a catamaran watercraft or may be formedintegrally of the hull itself, the placement thereof being a matter ofchoice available to `one skilled in the art.

Although embodiments of the watercraft propulsion device have beendescribed, it will be understood that within the purview of thisinvention various other changes may be made in the forms, details,proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode ofoperation, which generally stated consists in a device capable ofcarrying out the objects set forth as disclosed and dened in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A propulsion device for propelling a float member upon the surface ofa body of water, said device comprising a cup-like member the density ofwhich is less than the density of Water, said cup-like member beingmovably connected to said float member, and means for submerging saidcup-like member beneath the surface of the water while said float memberremains surfacedly of the water, the buoyancy of the cup-like memberwill cause the latter to rise to the surface of the water upon removalof anysubmerging force applied by said submerging means, whereby saidfloat member will be propelled upon discharge of water from saidcup-like member.

2. A propulsion device for propelling a float memberl upon the surfaceof a body of water, said device comprising a water-buoyant-member havinga water-receivingrecess therewithin, said water-buoyant-member beingmovably connected to said float-member, and means for causing thesubmersion of said waterbuoyant-men1ber beneath the water, the buoyancyof the Water-buoyant member will cause the latter to rise to the surfaceof the water upon removal of any submerging force applied by saidsubmersion means, whereby said float member will be propelled upondischarge of water from said waterreceiving-recess.

3. A propulsion device for propelling a watercraft within a body ofwater, said device comprising a waterbuoyant-member, saidwater-buoyant-member being movably connected to said watercraft, themajor volume of said water-buoyant-member being substantially above thesurface of the water when in the normally buoyed position, said waterbuoyant member being at least partially submersible beneath the waterwhereby water will lenter said member, the Water which entered themember being discharged from the latter when the buoyancy of said membercauses it to return to the normally buoyed position.

4. A propulsion device for propelling a watercraft i112 a body of water,said device comprising a floatation mem-Y ber having awater-receiving-cavity therewithin, said floatation member beingconnected to said Watercraft, means for momentarily and at leastpartially submerging said floatation member beneath the waterline ofsaid watercraft whereby water will enter said water-receivingcavitythereof, whereby subsequent to submersion of said fioatation member thebuoyancy of the latter will cause the member to be buoyed to the surfaceof the Water whereupon the water within the water-receiving-cavity willegress therefrom to thus propel said watercraft in the directionopposite to the direction of movement of the Water egressing from saidcavity.

5. A watercraft having an auxiliary buoyant member connected thereto,said buoyant member having a waterretaining-recess therein, said recessbeing adapted to receive water when said member is submerged in a bodyof water and to discharge-water as tlm buoyancy of, the

member causes said recess to be buoyed above the surface of the body ofwater, whereby said watercraft will be caused to move in a directionopposite to the direction of flow of the water being discharged fromsaid member.

6. A watercraft having a buoyant member included integrally thereof,said buoyant member having a waterretaining-portion therein, saidportion being defined by back and side walls, and a discharge opening,said portion being adapted to receive water upon submergence of saidmember beneath the surface of a body of water and being adapted todischarge the received water as the buoyancy of said member causes it tobe buoyed to the surface of the body of water, whereby said buoyantmember will be motivated in a direction opposite to the direction offlow of the water being discharged from said portion.

7. A propulsion device for watercraft comprising a plurality ofwater-buoyant-members, each member having at least onewater-receiving-cavity therein, said members being adapted forsubmersion beneath the water supporting the watercraft, said membersbeing connected to said Watercraft whereby the openings of said cavitiesface rearwardly of said watercraft, the cavity of each member at leastpartially receiving Water therein when submerged, the buoyancy of saidmembers causing the latter to rise above the surface of the water whenthe members are released, whereby water discharging from said cavitywill propel said watercraft.

8. A propulsion device for watercraft comprising a plurality ofwater-buoyant-members, each member having at least onewater-receiving-cavity therein, said members being connected to saidwatercraft, said members being selectively submergible beneath thesurface of the water supporting the Watercraft, the cavity of eachmember being adapted to receive water therein when at least partiallysubmerged, the buoyancy of said members causing the latter to floatabove the surface of the water when the members are released, wherebyWater discharging from said cavity will move said watercraft.

9. A propulsion device for watercraft comprising at least onewater-buoyant-member, said member having at least one cavity therein,said at least one water-buoyantmember being connected to said watercraftwhereby water will at least partially fill said at least one cavity uponsubmergence of said member and as the buoyancy of the member causes thelatter to float to the surface, the water which filled the at least onecavity will discharge therefrom to thus propel the watercraft in adirection opposite to the ow 0f the discharging water.

10. A propulsion device for propelling a watercraft, said devicecomprising a Water-buoyant-member having a water-receiving-cavitytherein, said device being connectible to a watercraft whereby theopening to said cavity faces in a direction generally opposite to thedesired direction of movement of the watercraft, whereby the buoyancy ofsaid device is capable of maintaining the major volume of said cavityabove the surface of the water upon which the watercraft is floating,whereby said device may be at least partially submerged by an externallyapplied force to enable water to enter said cavity, whereby the buoyancyof said device will cause the latter to float to the surface of thewater upon removal of said applied force to cause the water in thecavity to be discharged to thereby propel the watercraft.

11. A propulsion device for propelling a watercraft, said devicecomprising a water-buoyant-member having a water-receiving-cavitytherein, said device having connecting means attached exteriorlythereof, said connecting means being adapted for pivotal attachment to awatercraft, whereby the buoyancy of said device is capable ofmaintaining the major volume of said cavity above the surface of thewater upon which the watercraft is oating, whereby said device may be atleast partially submerged by an externally applied force to cause waterto enter said cavity, whereby the buoyancy of said device will cause thelatter to float to the surface of the water upon removal of said appliedforce to cause discharge of water from the cavity to thereby propel thewatercraft.

12. A propulsion device for attachment to a watercraft comprising awater-buoyant-member having inside walls, a back wall and an openingforming a cavity within said member, said member being attached to saidwatercraft whereby only a lower wall thereof rests upon the water whensaid member is in the normally floating position and the major volume ofsaid cavity is above the surface of the water, said member being atleast partially submersible beneath the surface upon the application offorce thereagainst whereby upon submergence, water will enter saidcavity and whereupon release of said force said member will return tothe normally floating position and in the course of said return willdischarge water contained within the cavity to thus propel theWatercraft.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1919 Nase11S-19 X 4/1961 Birdsall 11S-21

1. A PROPULSION DEVICE FOR PROPELLING A FLOAT MEMBER UPON THE SURFACE OFA BODY OF WATER, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A CUP-LIKE MEMBER THE DENSITY OFWHICH IS LESS THAN THE DENSITY OF WATER, SAID CUP-LIKE MEMBER BEINGMOVABLY CONNECTED TO SAID FLOAT MEMBER, AND MEANS FOR SUBMERGING SAIDCUP-LIKE MEMBER BENEATH THE SURFACE OF THE WATER WHILE THE FLOAT MEMBERREMAINS SURFACEDLY OF THE WATER, THE BUOYANCY OF THE CUP-LIKE MEMBERWILL CAUSE THE LATTER TO RISE TO THE SURFACE OF THE WATER UPON REMOVALOF ANY SUBMERGING FORCE APPLIED BY SAID SUBMERGING MEANS, WHEREBY SAIDFLOAT MEMBER WILL BE PROPELLED UPON DISCHARGE OF WATER FROM SAIDCUP-LIKE MEMBER.